Stock image of an AI assistant. Just_Super
A group of Chinese software engineers have developed what they have called the “world’s first” fully autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent. Called “Manus,” the AI agent can independently perform complex tasks without human guidance.
Unlike AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, or Grok, which need human input to perform things, Manus can proactively make decisions and complete tasks independently. To this end, the AI agent doesn’t necessarily need to wait for instructions to do something.
For example, if a human asks, ” Find me an apartment,” Manus can conduct research, evaluate multiple factors (crime rates, weather, market trends), and provide tailored recommendations.
Rather than using just one AI model, Manus operates like an executive managing multiple specialized sub-agents. This allows it to tackle complex, multi-step workflows seamlessly.
Manus: the fully autonomous AI agent
Moreover, the AI agent can work asynchronously, meaning it completes tasks in the background and notifies users only when results are ready, without constant human supervision.
This is a significant development; most AIs have relied heavily on humans to initiate tasks. Manus represents a shift toward fully independent AI, raising exciting possibilities and serious concerns about job displacement and responsibility.
What is also interesting is that Manus comes just over a year after the release of DeepSeek in 2023. That particular AI is widely seen, as Forbes explains, as China’s AI “Sputnik Moment.”
According to some, the emergence of Manus challenges the narrative that the U.S. is the uncontested leader in advanced AI development. It suggests China has caught up and potentially leapfrogged ahead by developing truly autonomous AI agents.
Manus is not just an intellectual achievement for the team; it could have critical real-world applications, including recruitment. In this role, Manus can autonomously analyze resumes, cross-reference job market trends, and produce optimal hiring choices, complete with detailed analysis and reports.
Another interesting application could be software development, when agents like Manus can quickly build a professional website from scratch. The agent can also scrape necessary information from social media, deploy the website online, and independently resolve technical hosting issues.
How will the world react?
Unlike other commonly known AIs, Manus could represent a very real threat to human workers, actually being able to replace them rather than just boost their work efficiency. This raises some problematic ethical and regulatory questions about its use.
Beyond potential mass unemployment, who would be responsible if an AI autonomously makes a costly mistake? Regulators worldwide are currently unequipped to handle fully independent AI agents.
Silicon Valley’s leading tech companies have traditionally assumed they would dominate AI through incremental improvements. Manus, as a fully autonomous system, changes the playing field, raising fears that China might achieve a significant advantage in AI-powered industries.
Silicon Valley’s leading tech companies have traditionally assumed they would dominate AI through incremental improvements. As a fully autonomous system, Manus changes the playing field, raising fears that China might achieve a significant advantage in AI-powered industries.
How the rest of the world will react is yet to be seen, but we may be about to enter the era of autonomous AI agents.
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ABOUT THE EDITOR
Christopher McFadden Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.
